Carnegie Hall

The Los Angeles Philharmonic, under the vibrant leadership of Music and Artistic Director Gustavo Dudamel, presents an inspiring array of music through a commitment to foundational works and adventurous explorations. Both at home and abroad, the Philharmonic—recognized as one of the world’s outstanding orchestras—is leading the way in groundbreaking and diverse programming, on stage and in the community, that reflects the orchestra’s artistry and demonstrates its vision. The orchestra marks its 104th season in 2022–2023.

The Los Angeles Philharmonic performs or presents more than 250 concerts at its three iconic venues: the Frank Gehry–designed Walt Disney Concert Hall, The Ford, and the famed Hollywood Bowl. During its winter season at Walt Disney Concert Hall, with approximately 165 performances, the Philharmonic creates festivals, artist residencies, and other thematic programs designed to enhance the audience’s experience of orchestral music. Since 1922, its summer home has been the world-famous Hollywood Bowl. Under the stewardship of the Philharmonic since December 2019, The Ford presents an eclectic summer season that is reflective of the communities that make up Los Angeles.

The orchestra’s involvement with Los Angeles extends far beyond its venues, with wide-ranging performances in the schools, churches, and neighborhood centers of a vastly diverse community. Among its influential and multifaceted learning initiatives is YOLA (Youth Orchestra Los Angeles), inspired by Venezuela’s revolutionary El Sistema. Through YOLA, the Philharmonic and its community partners now provide free instruments, intensive music instruction, and leadership training to 1,500 students from underserved neighborhoods. In the fall of 2021, YOLA opened its own permanent, purpose-built facility: the Judith and Thomas L. Beckmen YOLA Center at Inglewood, designed by architect Frank Gehry.

The Los Angeles Philharmonic was founded in 1919 by William Andrews Clark, Jr., a wealthy amateur musician. Walter Henry Rothwell became its first music director, serving until 1927; since then, 10 renowned conductors have served in that capacity: Georg Schnéevoigt (1927–1929), Artur Rodziński (1929–1933), Otto Klemperer (1933–1939), Alfred Wallenstein (1943–1956), Eduard van Beinum (1956–1959), Zubin Mehta (1962–1978), Carlo Maria Giulini (1978–1984), André Previn (1985–1989), Esa-Pekka Salonen (1992–2009), and Gustavo Dudamel (2009–present).

Gustavo Dudamel is driven by the belief that music has the power to transform lives, to inspire, and to change the world. Through his dynamic presence on the podium and his tireless advocacy for arts education, Mr. Dudamel has introduced classical music to new audiences around the globe and has helped provide access to the arts for countless people in underserved communities. He currently serves as Music and Artistic Director, Walt and Lilly Disney Chair, of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, and Music Director of the Opéra National de Paris and Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra.

Mr. Dudamel is one of the few classical musicians to become a bona fide pop culture phenomenon, with film credits that include Steven Spielberg’s new film adaptation of Bernstein’s West Side Story, Star Wars: Episode VII—The Force Awakens, and The Simpsons; in addition, he led the LA Phil with Billie Eilish in the concert film Happier Than Ever: A Love Letter to Los Angeles. He has performed at the Super Bowl halftime show, the Academy Awards, and the Nobel Prize Concert, and has worked with international superstars who include Christina Aguilera, Beyoncé, Coldplay, and others. His extensive discography includes 65 releases and four Grammy Awards.

Inspired by his transformative experience as a youth in El Sistema, Venezuela’s immersive music-training program, he created the Dudamel Foundation in 2012, which he co-chairs with his wife, actress and director María Valverde, with the goal “to expand access to music and the arts for young people by providing tools and opportunities to shape their creative futures.” In July and August 2022, the Dudamel Foundation brought its “Encuentros” initiative to the Hollywood Bowl as part of its 100th anniversary season in a two-week intensive global leadership and orchestral training program for young musicians from around the world, culminating in a concert at the Hollywood Bowl and a tour with the “Orquesta del Encuentros” to the legendary Greek Theatre in Berkeley, California. For more information about Gustavo Dudamel, visit his official website at gustavodudamel.com and the Dudamel Foundation at dudamelfoundation.org.

With her impressive musical expressiveness and technical perfection, at the age of only 19, María Dueñas has quickly established herself as one of the most sought-after artists of her generation. Since winning the 2021 Menuhin Competition and the Audience Prize, the Spanish violinist has been in demand worldwide, making her debuts with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, Staatskapelle Berlin, Dresden Philharmonic, Mozarteum Orchestra Salzburg, Danish National Symphony Orchestra, Oslo Philharmonic, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, and NHK Symphony Orchestra, as well as at the Grafenegg Festival, the Vienna Konzerthaus, and Carnegie Hall. As a BBC New Generation Artist 2021–2023, she collaborates with the most relevant concert halls and orchestras across the UK. The world premiere of Altar de cuerda, a new violin concerto by Gabriela Ortiz, with the Los Angeles Philharmonic under the baton of Gustavo Dudamel, was a major highlight last season.

Ms. Dueñas has performed with the San Francisco Symphony, Los Angeles Philharmonic, NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchestra, Orchestre Philharmonique du Luxembourg, National Philharmonic Orchestra of Russia, and Lucerne Symphony Orchestra under conductors who include Gustavo Dudamel, Marek Janowski, Manfred Honeck, Vladimir Spivakov, Vassily Sinaisky, Gustavo Gimeno, and Michael Sanderling. Ms. Dueñas collaborates with world-class soloists such as Matthias Goerne, Itamar Golan, and Robert Kulek, appearing at important festivals that include the Rheingau Musik Festival, Colmar International Festival, Arts Square Festival in St. Petersburg, and the Verbier Festival.

Ms. Dueñas has been the recipient of many prizes, including the Yankelevitch Prize as well as at the Getting to Carnegie Competition, Vladimir Spivakov International Competition, and Zhuhai Mozart International Competition, among others.

Born in Granada, Spain, in 2002, Ms. Dueñas studies with Professor Kuschnir at the Music and Arts Private University of the City of Vienna and at the University of Music and Performing Arts of Graz. She plays a Niccolò Gagliano violin (ca. 1734), kindly offered on loan from Deutsche Stiftung Musikleben, and the Guarneri del Gesù “Muntz” (ca. 1736), on generous loan from the Nippon Music Foundation.